Vegan Barbecue “Pulled Pork” Sandwich

Skip the meat, extra fat and calories with a dreamy vegan barbecue “pulled pork” sandwich. This smoky, sweet and tangy sandwich is proof that plant based food can be just as delicious as the real thing!

Who knew jackfruit would taste as good as pulled pork when served on a bun with coleslaw and barbecue sauce. My mind is blown.

The best part about these jackfruit pulled pork sandwiches? For one, it’s vegan which mean it’s cruelty free – which is always more enjoyable if you ask me. For two, it’s much lower in fat and calories which means you get to have more, minus the guilt.

Just take a look at how much healthier pulled jackfruit with barbecue sauce is compared to the real thing:

1 cup pulled pork with barbecue sauce -> 417 calories, 11 grams fat

1 cup pulled jackfruit with barbecue sauce -> 150 calories, 0 grams fat

If you are thinking “okay, so it’s a lot healthier but seriously – there’s no way this tastes as good as the real sandwich!” Um, yes it does and that’s why you have to try it because your mind will also be blown! I thought for sure there would be a pretty big difference in texture and flavor but it turns out it’s so minimal it doesn’t matter.

I forget I’m eating jackfruit whenever I make these vegan pulled pork sandwiches, I’m not kidding. The texture isn’t chewy like shredded pork but everything else is the same, without the fat and added calories. Now, how can anyone say no to that! 🙂

The hardest part about making these jackfruit pulled pork Sandwiches is finding canned young jackfruit. Canned jackfruit isn’t sold in your average supermarket but really, it’s not that difficult to find. You will need to visit an Asian supermarket or buy it online. Make sure you get jackfruit in water – not in brine or syrup – since you want the meat to be unflavored.

Making the sandwiches is super easy; all you need to do is mix a few spices together and cook the shredded jackfruit with barbecue sauce (I use Stubb’s Spicy BBQ Sauce) for about 15 minutes. While the jackfruit is cooking, make a 5 minute coleslaw and finally, dump all that goodness on hamburger buns. SO GOOD!

What is jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit mainly found in South India (it’s the national fruit of Bangladesh). It’s the largest tree-borne fruit that can weigh up to 80  pounds! Its exterior looks medieval with its spiny shell and greenish yellow color. The jackfruit is made of hundreds of thousands of different flowers and it’s the fleshy petals that we eat. It’s an excellent source of fiber, calcium and potassium. It’s also high in protein, vitamin B1 and C.

Can I use fresh jackfruit for this recipe?

Unfortunately no. My first attempt was with fresh, mature jackfruit and it was so sweet I ended up eating the fruit on its own. It was also impossible to shred and was stickier than honey! Fresh jackfruit is absolutely delicious but should be eaten as a fruit – just like that or with some ice cream or yogurt.

You can make this jackfruit pulled pork sandwich ahead of time by keeping the cooked barbecue jackfruit and coleslaw in separate glass containers (I’m on a quest to stop using plastic bags and containers these days 😉 ) It should keep for 4-5 days, stored in the fridge.

Other yummy plant based recipes:

• Cantaloupe smoothie
• Guasacaca
• Spicy vegan sichuan noodles
• Edamame quinoa salad
• Soy and sesame edamame

Did you like this Vegan Barbecue “Pulled Pork” Sandwich Recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share?

Vegan Barbecue “Pulled Pork” Sandwich

Print Recipe

This barbecue vegan pulled jackfruit sandwich is beyond amazing. So good that your meat eating guests won’t even notice they are eating jackfruit!

• Author: Caroline Phelps
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
• Category: Sandwiches
• Method: Pan frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 20-ounce can jackfruit in water (drained and patted dry)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce (I like smoky or spicy)
• 4–6 burger buns

Coleslaw:

• 2 cup coleslaw premix
• 1/3 cup vegenaise
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon 100% pure maple syrup
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Put all the ingredients for the coleslaw in a bowl and toss. Set aside.
2. Either cut the hard end of the jackfruit (the tough part that doesn’t shred) or press it until it flattens and becomes easy to pull apart. Shred the remaining part using your fingers.
3. Add shredded jackfruit to a bowl and toss with paprika, chili powder, turmeric and salt.
4. In a large pan over medium high heat, add oil and jackfruit. Cook for 3 minutes.
5. Add barbecue sauce along with 2 tablespoons water and stir. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes – stirring every 5 minutes to prevent the sauce from burning.
6. Warm up burger buns and top with jackfruit and coleslaw. Add more barbecue sauce if needed.
   Serve.

Notes

To eat later or for leftovers: store the vegan barbecue jackfruit in an airtight storage container, and refrigerate for up to 7 days.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 0
• Calories: 465
• Sugar: 0
• Sodium: 0
• Fat: 0
• Saturated Fat: 0
• Trans Fat: 0
• Carbohydrates: 0
• Fiber: 0
• Protein: 0
• Cholesterol: 0

Keywords: recipe, lunch, brunch, snack, vegan, plant based, meatless, vegetarian

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